Kaduna State government will establish a Social Protection Agency aimed at ensuring all social protection programmes are delivered in an integrated, inclusive and sustainable manner that optimizes resource utilization and achieves high impact.
Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai made this known at the launch of the protection policy in Kaduna.
He disclosed that the agency will utilize an integrated social protection management information system, which will serve as a data repository to ensure the poorest of the poor are prioritized in programme planning and benefits.
“This will also ensure the effective monitoring and evaluation of programme impacts on targeted poor and vulnerable residents of the same”, he said.
The Governor noted that government is aware of the enormous cost of providing social protection coverage for the poor and vulnerable but it will also seek to guarantee minimum social protection floors for every poor and vulnerable person in the State.
“For this purpose, the Kaduna State government welcomes partnership with all key stakeholders, donor agencies, private individuals, NGOs, and CSOs, in the social protection space”.
According to him, his administration has focused on expanding access to education and healthcare as the fulcrum of human capital development since assumption into office.
“This government has made education in the state free and compulsory for the first 12 years. We have also enacted the Child Welfare and Protection Law. Our public healthcare system offers free services for pregnant women and children younger than five years” he said.
State support of policy
In her opening remarks, the Kaduna State Steering Committee on Social Investment Chairman, Mrs Saude Amina Atoyebi, thanked the State Executive Council for its support.
According to her, SEC did not only approve the State Policy on Social Protection, but also approved 1% of the State revenues to the yearly funding of social protection.
Mrs Atoyebi reiterated that Governor El-Rufai’s led administration is passionate about providing a level playing field for citizens in the state and that he has proven this by prioritizing access to education, health and skills for the poor and vulnerable groups.
She also appreciated the leadership of the Save the Children International for their continuous and untiring support towards establishing and strengthening the social protection system in the State, through its Child Development Grant Program (CDGP).
“Since the State Steering Committee was constituted in October, 2019, they have supported the Kaduna State Government to develop the Social Protection Policy, its implementation plan and provided technical and capacity building support to State Government Officials”, she added.
Emmanuel Ukoh
